Untitled

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 39, 23 September 1867, Page 235

The Bikdcatchees of Bek gal. —These birdcatchers are probably the most skilful in their particular vocation of any people in tii© world. They use no other impliments than birdlitned rods for capturing their game. It matters little how wild their destined victim is,, or how high, seated; with nothing but bis bundle of hollow reeds or Dam boos, a miserable rag round his loins, and a little pot of birdlime, the boolboolla steals after his prey so silently and cunningly aa to lull the suspicions of the most wary bird. His naked dusky body is scarcely perceptable in the jungle, and he soon succeeds iu reaching the foot of the tree on which his quarry is perched. When there, he slowiy, noisiessly, and deftly fixes together joint after joint [of his liming rod, which thus increases iu length, and gradually approaches the bird. | The latter takes little heed of the thin 'supple twig worming its way upward | through the leaves, till the tenacious lime. | has reached and fixed him to the rod When thus entrapped, the bird is either ! brought down by the reversed process of | unfixing each joint, or the boolboolia | climbs, the tree and seizes the flutterer 'with his hands ora small light noose.— The Jield.